Power and Politics by Achal, Chapter -13

A discussion on Chapter 13, Power and Politics in the basis of Bangladesh

1. Power and Politics (Chapter 13) Prepared by: Achal Rahman

2. Introduction to Power and Politics Power and politics exist in every organization. - Power: The ability to influence others. - Politics: The use of power to achieve personal or organizational goals. - Both can be used positively or negatively.

3. Why Power and Politics is important in Organizations - Decision making in organizations is influenced by power and politics. - Helps employees and managers achieve their objectives. - Can impact job promotions, teamwork, and leadership.

4. Types of Power Power is divided into two main categories: 1. Formal Power: Based on position in the organization. 2. Personal Power: Based on personal characteristics and relationships.

5. Formal Power Types - Coercive Power: Control through punishment (e.g., demotions, firing employees). - Reward Power: Giving incentives like bonuses or promotions. - Legitimate Power: Power from position (e.g., managers, CEOs).

6. Personal Power Types - Expert Power: Based on skills and knowledge (e.g., IT specialists, engineers). - Referent Power: Based on personal influence and charisma (e.g., a respected team leader).

7. Dependence and Power - Power comes from how much others depend on you. - Three factors affect dependence: 1. Importance of the resource. 2. Scarcity of the resource. 3. No substitutes available.

8. Example of Dependenc e Example: - A senior sales executive in a car dealership has expert power because customers trust their knowledge. - A company's IT manager has power because employees depend on them for technical solutions.

9. Influence Tactics in Organizations People use various tactics to influence others , Like : - Rational Persuasion: Using facts and logic. - Inspirational Appeals: Motivating with emotions. - Consultation: Seeking opinions before making decisions. - Pressure: Using threats or demands. - Coalitions: Getting support from others.

10. Example of Influence Tactics Example: - A marketing manager persuades the CEO to increase the advertising budget using rational persuasion. - A political leader in Bangladesh gains support using inspirational appeals.

11. What is Organizational Politics? - Organizational politics refers to activities people use to gain advantage. - It can be positive (networking, teamwork) or negative (gossip, manipulation).

12. Examples of Organizational Politics - Employees form alliances to secure promotions. - Managers favor employees who support their decisions. - Government offices influenced by political connections.

13. Ethical and Unethical Use of Power Ethical power use: - Transparency in promotions. - Fair decision-making. Unethical power use: - Nepotism (hiring based on family connections). - Corruption and bribery.

14. Example of Ethical and Unethical Power Example: - Ethical: A company hires employees based on merit, not personal connections. - Unethical: Some businesses secure contracts through political influence rather than fair competition.

15. How to Manage Organizational Politics - Create a transparent and fair work environment. - Encourage open communication. - Reward ethical behavior. - Reduce unnecessary competition.

16. Example of Managing Politics in a Office - A local IT firm creates clear promotion criteria to avoid favoritism. - Managers encourage employees to voice concerns without fear.

17. Key Learnings - Power and politics exist in every workplace. - Power comes from dependence and resources. - Influence tactics help in leadership and teamwork. - Organizational politics can be positive or negative. - Ethical use of power creates a better work environment.

18. Conclusion Understanding power and politics helps employees and managers work more effectively. Always aim to use power ethically and fairly for the benefit of the organization and its people.

19. THANK YOU